The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) would like to alert all Hoosiers of a tax scam reported by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This scam is sent through text message and is trying to trick individuals into providing personal information in order to receive a $1,200 Economic Impact Payment. The scam text message reads: "You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment into your account. Continue here to accept this payment …" The text includes a link to a fake web address. The IRS has advised people who

State Road 2 is closed between Thornhill Dr and Thornapple W through approximately Saturday, November 14. This closure is to rebuild a culvert under the road. Drivers should seek an alternate route. The official detour will follow U.S. 30, State Road 49, and State Road 8.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Friday announced a series of pilot programs designed to increase access to mental health care for inmates in Indiana county jails. The pilot programs will focus on individuals found incompetent to stand trial who are awaiting placement in the state psychiatric hospital network. Currently and historically in Indiana, these individuals are forced to await the availability of a bed in a state psychiatric hospital before they can receive the competency restoration services required by law. DMHA’s pilot programs will work with a variety of partners to provide

Attorney General Curtis Hill said Friday that a court’s default judgment against Wildlife in Need should demonstrate to all nonprofit organizations that they must use donations for their intended purposes and cannot misrepresent their activities to would-be donors. Last week, a Marion Superior Court judge affirmed that the state’s allegations against Wildlife in Need are correct and ruled that the organization is now officially dissolved. Attorney General Hill sued Wildlife in Need in February over owner Timothy Stark’s misrepresentations of the nonprofit organization’s activities. He alleged that for years, Stark embezzled the nonprofit’s assets for his own purposes. The lawsuit

Washington, DC - Friday, Congressman Pete Visclosky announced the following closure schedule for his offices in Merrillville and Washington, D.C. Due to Congressman Visclosky’s impending departure from the House of Representatives, his Merrillville and Washington, D.C., offices will cease to be able to respond to general inquiries after November 13, 2020. This action is consistent with the standard protocols of shutting down the offices of a departing Member of Congress, which includes the removal of government-issued property and electronics. Individuals with general inquiries, including inquiries related to casework, legislation, tours, and flag requests, are encouraged to communicate their request and

Indiana Department of Transportation: is offering civil engineering students scholarships of up to $3,125 per semester, and paid employment during summer breaks and upon graduation. Students must be accepted or enrolled full time in one of Indiana’s certified civil engineering schools and apply using the form at www.INDOTScholarship.IN.gov. Applications for the 2021-2022 school year must be submitted by December 31st. INDOT’s scholarship program uses federal funds to offer $3,125 per semester or $2,083 per trimester for up to five years of post-secondary civil engineering education. Scholarship funds can be applied to educational expenses, fees and books. In return, recipients will

WIMS congratulates Michigan City Area Schools Coolspring teacher Angie Dydo and MCHS junior Lance Corporal Emily Pacheco on their award earlier yesterday from The Rotary Club of Michigan City. WIMS also congratulates: Police Officer of the Year (co-recipients) Lt. Tim Richardson and Sgt. Jeff Piotrowski of the Michigan City Police Department, nominated by Chief Dion Campbell Firefighter of the Year Brad Kreighbaum of the Michigan City Fire Department, nominated by Chief Craig Krivak Teacher of the Year Angie Dydo, teacher at Coolspring Elementary School, nominated by principal Kim Palmer Michigan City High School JROTC Student of the Year Cadet Emily

Franciscan Health will offer a free virtual seminar on a new, minimally invasive treatment for severe emphysema patients and those with certain types of COPD. Franciscan Health is one of the few hospitals in Indiana to offer the PulmonX Zephyr® Valve. This FDA-approved device is used during a procedure that places tiny valves in the airways to block damaged areas of the lung, thereby causing that area to deflate and redirect air to the relatively healthier parts of the lungs. With air no longer trapped, pressure is lifted off the diaphragm, making breathing easier. “PulmonX Zephyr Valve: Breathing Easier with

Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, MCPD is suspending its inked fingerprinting service effective immediately.  This will NOT affect those that need fingerprinting for a pending handgun permit through Identigo.  MCPD says this decision was made in order to protect the health of the community that we serve as well as our valuable staff.  Follow their Facebook page as they will post when they initiate this service again in the near future. The Records Division remains open for all of your other needs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

New Prairie United School Corporation issued an attendance plan update. LaPorte and St. Joseph counties have both posted "Orange" on the state COVID Metric. As a result, NPUSC will use the 50% Attendance hybrid for the week of November 9th.  Late Starts will not occur on the 50% Attendance Hybrid. Schedule information can be found on the New Prairie United School Corporation Facebook page. NPUSC also made an announcement about Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs). NPUSC has made the decision that if at any time LaPorte County posts Red on a Wednesday in the state COVID metric, ECAs for the next week

Unity Foundation Announces 2021 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Finalists: Check the WIMS FACEBOOK page @wimsradio for the full release and names

To help meet the unprecedented level of need this holiday season, Walmart and The Salvation Army of Michigan City are working together to make it even easier for people to help others this Christmas. Building upon a 40-year relationship of supporting people in need during the holiday season, Walmart and The Salvation Army are bringing hope and joy to families through the expansion of programs like Angel Tree and Red Kettles, which will be out earlier, and, for the first time ever, round-up donations to The Salvation Army in-store and online. The economic fallout of the ongoing health crisis has

The MCAS Food Service Department is excited to announce that meals will be provided for “in-person” learning students during the Hybrid schedule on Mondays and Fridays, beginning Friday, November 6th. Because all Michigan City Area Schools are CEP (Community Eligibility Program) schools, all students receive free meals. A breakfast and lunch will be provided that will be ready to eat for children to enjoy during these scheduled hybrid online learning days. For students who ride the bus: Food Service is partnering with MCAS Transportation to deliver meals to the child’s bus stop.  Your child’s driver will contact you to see

The GOAL is $7,500 to receive a matching grantthrough IHCDA’s CreatINg Places initiative. LaPorte residents will soon have a festive winter market eventthanks to the recently launched crowdfunding campaign.The campaign is sponsored by the Indiana Housing and CommunityDevelopment Authority (IHCDA) and offered through the crowdfundingplaPorm developed by Patronicity. The campaign is led by Bethany Church.

The City of La Porte recently announced Ashley Knoll as its new Deputy Clerk-Treasurer upon the retirement of current Deputy Joanne Layman, according to Clerk-Treasurer Courtney Parthun. Knoll was hired to replace the city's long-time deputy Joanne Layman, who will retire in the coming year. Parthun said Layman has served the City of La Porte since 2005, seeing the city through both highs and lows. She said though Layman and her dedication and experience will be sorely missed, she thinks Knoll is the right person for the job. Knoll started at the City yesterday.

The Domestic Highway Enforcement made stops on consecutive days that produced firearm and drug related arrests. On October 30th, a deputy assigned to the Domestic Highway Enforcement (DHE) program/initiative was monitoring westbound traffic along the Indiana Toll Road (I-80/90) near the 62-mile marker. The deputy observed a passenger vehicle traveling behind a semi-tractor trailer too closely.  While now traveling westbound, the deputy observed the same vehicle fail to signal a lane change.  At the 59-mile marker, the deputy initiated a traffic stop.   The driver was identified as 53 year old Emanuel E. Moore of Euclid, Ohio.  A second deputy,

Two were shot in Michigan City over the weekend at different locations. Saturday at about 11:00 P.M.; Michigan City Police Department officers were dispatched to Franciscan Health for a gunshot victim that arrived in the emergency room. Officers arrived and found a 26-year-old male with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Officers learned that the shooting allegedly occurred at a bar in Michigan City. This information was investigated and could not be corroborated. The investigation into this incident is ongoing. On Sunday November 1st at approximately 3:15 A.M.; MCPD Shift 3 Officers were dispatched to the Crown Food Mart located at 1302

Mayor Tom Dermody said the City of La Porte will be cracking down on violence following two shootings over the weekend. "We are outraged by the senseless shootings that occurred this Sunday," Dermody said. "Violence of any kind will not be tolerated in our city, and our police department will not rest until the perpetrators are caught and charged to the fullest extent of the law." Officers were called to a disturbance involving numerous subjects at 3 a.m. Sunday morning in a parking lot across the street from Mickey's Bar & Grill. Two gunshot victims were transported to South Bend Memorial

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is introducing its newest exhibition,  New Views , which opens November 13th. This show celebrates the 13th year of creative achievements by artists from LCA’s Health Promotion Through the Arts program, which is designed to provide high quality arts instruction to adults living with cognitive and developmental disabilities. Health Promotion Through the Arts (HPA) is offered in partnership with The Social & Learning Institute and Paladin, Inc. with generous funding provided by Duneland Health Council and Horizon Bank. New Views is curated to include some of the best artwork by nearly 40 artists

Michigan City Police announced that a man was recently arrested with a gun after a traffic stop Last Wednesday night Officer Babcock was on patrol when he observed that a vehicle traveling in front of him southbound on Franklin Street near US 20 had an expired license plate. The driver of this vehicle then turned east on US 20 at which time Officer Babcock initiated a traffic stop on the driver of this vehicle for this registration infraction. Officer Babcock approached the driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, and identified the driver as 33-year-old Derico P. Harris